Thought I'd start a thread to share when anyone was thinking about heading to Kissena.

I'll kick things off - am going to head to the track this Sat 27 and Sun 28 for the first time this year. Anyone wanna join? I'm happy to treat at least one of the days as an informal coaching session for any of you who can't make it to the session on May 5th and felt they'd benefit from my er, experience. @Josh and I were chatting about this a couple of weeks ago.

I was planning on roughly a 12.30pm start on Sat (the kids prog is on till 12) and depending on whether the track is booked on Sun (Joe Brennan had booked it as a rain date for the women's clinic), either 11am or 2pm. But am flexible if other times suit people better.

On Saturday, I was planning on a long warm up to get used to the track again (and see how many more cracks have developed in it..) and then doing a starts session (4 sets of 4 x 75-100m on 94.5", alternate seated / standing). Obviously people are free to join in this or do their own thing - it's fairly sprint specific. On Sunday...not decided yet! Maybe some longer efforts, overgeared standing start laps. (to anyone whom this para seemed like gobbledegook, welcome to the world of track training ;-) ! But seriously, I'm happy to explain the different types of training and training drills on the track and the theories behind them to anyone who is interested - it's something we can talk about here, this weekend and next later on at the clinic.)

Hi everyone,

Just a general note / plea to say if anyone is planning on heading to Kissena Park Velodrome soon or wants a change from training on the road, let me know. I'm going there this Sat am and Sun, prob pm, to do sprint drills. Otherwise it'll just be me dishing out pain to myself again, in the company of some random Chinese woman on a shopping bike doing laps at 4mph and a group of grown men incessantly racing oversized radio controlled cars (this has to be seen to be believed - it's like a really low budget version of Fast and Furious).

Kieran

If you do the FB thing, you should the Kissena Velodrome group. Maybe you can coordinate with some of the sprinters like Lacorte and get in on the moto sessions.

Thanks guys, stupidly hadn't looked to see if they had an FB page - you think they'd link it to the track website. Could really do with moto sessions! Hadn't realised about the women's clinic (where are the fat male sprinter's clinics?) - better get down there earlier...

@Aaron Blum

Hey Aaron, cool - I'll be down there Sat and Sun. Not sure what time on Sat - I am waiting to here back from someone. Sun - depending on the weather, it'll either be mid-morning or in the evening (if it's a really hot day - I find that out at the track it does get cooler by the time the evening comes around). I'll let you know.

I will be doing some pretty specific sprint drills both days - you're obviously welcome to join or just do your own thing! (the latter prob more fun).

I'm going to try and make it out there Sunday 

Cool - was hoping you could, we can do some team sprint training!

Not that I think anyone was going to join (guess you were all at L&C) but I decided not to head to the track today - despite the glorious weather I'm heading to the gym as I missed it yesterday. Am still on for tomorrow though. I was planning on getting started for 11am (I desperately need to catch up on some sleep). Who's coming? I've a standing starts session planned but can do other things as well as talk about training, races and all things track in between.

@Edwin - I checked on the availability of the loaner bike for tomorrow and I was told there's no-one available to let us get in the container where they are kept. Sorry. We're still on for May 5th though. If they tell me the same thing re unavailability for then I'm going to go all Incredible Hulk...

Congrats on the points jersey today, Andy, good stuff!

I'm going to come... then do some miles over the bridge to my job in NJ. 

Thanks Kieran

I'm going to be running a few minutes late but ill be there.

I can't make it anymore

Good times at the track today with @JoshCesar and @Andy_Da_Silva. My first time there this season. Went through the principles of standing starts with Josh and Andy and put them to the test, which was fun. A couple of sets of these, then Josh headed home. Andy and I finished off with some team sprint efforts, which were fun and good practice for later in the season.

I realized I'm in slightly better shape than I thought I would be, which is nice, and certainly better shape than I was this time last year...

It was a perfect day for riding there; we shared the track with a few other track dudes and there weren't too many rec riders clogging up the joint either (and, better still, not a radio controlled car to be found). The only thing missing were a few more Kissenas!

My arms are sore from those standing starts... 

Hey Aaron - alas we're a bit restricted on Sat mornings - there's the kids' Star Trac program on from 10-12 until September. Saturday afternoons are generally free though. Sunday mornings should be a regular thing though! Watch this space ;-)

@Andy - obviously a sign you were trying - no pain, no gain ;-)

As promised, I found a good video that illustrates some world class standing start technique, it's the 2012 World Champs team sprint final, Aus vs France. It's a good video cos you can see how both Bauge (France) and Perkins (Aus) try and get their whole (considerable) body weight as far forward as they can on the gun, after shifting back in their seat in the countdown. Note how then their "thrust" sees them with upright upper bodies too and both maintaining a really strong frame with their arms to achieve the "forward only" acceleration (phase I). If you watch at 13 seconds (between about 50 to 75m), you see Perkins switch into "phase II", loosen his arms slightly and into "normal side to side" acceleration. Both Bauge and Perkins only seem to sit down (phase III) at about 175m or so - that's quite a way to be out of the saddle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQXVmndLwuY

It's a great race too - the Aussies win it by 0.001 of a sec. Would hate to have been France's man 3 who loses it!

Hey everyone,

I'm back in the game after a couple of busy weeks. Anyone up for coming to the track this Sunday am? I'm thinking: @Andy Da Silva, @Aaron Blum and @WilsonGoode in particular, though would be great if anyone else was around!

I'm signed up for some back to back road racing at floyd this Sunday... Sorry guys. 

That's a shame Andy, HTF am I gonna get to the track now?! Only kidding, good luck at Floyd!

@Aaron - I'm easy - tho probably early afternoon, e.g. 2 pm.works best for me.

Really wish I could, but racing FBF as well as stuff going on in the afternoon so can't make it.

No worries David! Good luck at FBF! @Aaron - good stuff. I'll text you but I expect to be there at 2-2.30pm. I'm gonna do a lot of standing starts, but I can think up some good intervals for you to do if you want...

Well if your going in the afternoon i could get myself over there

Yo, planning to head to the track on Sat afternoon, probably around 2-3pm. Planning a long session, maybe 3 hours or so. Standing starts, maybe some standing laps, or more seated 800m. Depends on what level of pain I feel like ;-) @Aaron Blum @Andy Da Silva, ya? @JoshuaC?

Would like to go on Sunday too, but might just hit the gym in the morning and then head to watch Harlem.

i can't do Saturday but im in for sunday morning if anyones down.

Hey,

Planning on going to the track on Sat and Sun. Probably get there around 2pm on Sat, 3pm on Sunday.

Standing laps one day, standing starts the other, plus a few flying efforts, depending on how energtic I'm feeling!

Hello,

Thunderstorms permitting, I'm planning on going to the track on Sat and Sun this weekend.

Sat - prob get there for around 3.30-4pm.
Sun - me and Andy DS are planning to get there for 9-9.30am.

Holler if you're interested in coming too - I think we have David Y and Aaron B down for Sunday too...

Coming Sunday am weather permitting

Thinking of taking the lirr out then riding back.

@Aaron, what are your plans?

Sorry I couldn't make it today but I caught some nasty stomach bug that not only kept me awake all night, but drained me of all fluid and nutrition that I consumed all day. Just starting to feel better. That was a rough 10 hours...